I’m starting my 3 weeks of rads tomorrow and yes I know it’s still March. Not sure what to expect. Just starting to feel a little anxious. Xx
I am 14 down, just one zap left. The radiotherapy is pretty easy. You dont feel anything, and only takes a few minutes. so physically, its easy. I found it a bit harder to get my head round, as you cant see or feel anything while its happening. You know its doing something, but you cant tell what, and you dont know how bad ( if any) sideeffects you will get. Personally, I found that harder than dealing with my diagnosis, and surgery- but we are all diferent. I am three weeks in, and apart from a sore nipple( sorry to be blunt, but its awful), I feel fine. Big tip- take a buddy to distract you while you are waiting, and reward yourself with coffee/cake/brunch afternoon tea, or whatever your appointment schedule suggests. I am very independent, but found the moral support more important than i thought I would. You’ll be fine!
It is really easy to get hospital transport to rads appointments if you are worried about driving in 3rd week.Very often you have your own private chauffeur !!You just ring when you have finished and they come pick you up.They give you number to ring at your planning appointment .
First one down, 14 to go. It was really easy. Just took a little while to get set up but then very quick. Chest feels a little warm. Also got a reaction to the tape for the pad on my chest.
Takes 45 mins to get there and only 15 mins then home. Mid afternoon appt so no time for treat afterwards but did have a Chinese takeaway for dinner. I did have a wobbly moment as I went to get changed and wanted to walk out but that soon went. Xx
Hey
I start my first radio tomorrow. I am so scared, I don’t know why but I have bad feelings. Is there any bad side effects? Could I work with it. it is so scary to go to the hospital every day. I feel really upset about it. Is radiio really necessary?
Many thanks.
It’s very understandable to feel daunted by it.It is not nice going to hospital every day and being reminded of cancer ,but after the first few sessions you do get a lot calmer and just get into a routine .You tend to see the same staff and patients every day and actually it is very friendly and supportive .Think we all had some wobbly moments,particularly when you are left alone for a few minutes when you have your treatment and your mind can wander to negative stuff.I developed some nice fantasies to think of for the 3 mins or so during treatment …good luck!
You can get very tired after first week but people dibs irk through it,you will have to see how you feel.Side effects are tiredness (drink lots of water that helps) and soreness /rash itchiness on treated area.They will give you advice and creams etc to help with the side effects .
Everyone is different in how they react ,most people don’t have any long-term side effects ,most side effects are short term .You can get swelling or shrinkage to boob,but my swelling settled after a few weeks.I still have tenderness to my ribs 6 months after finishing but no other lasting side effects .There are significant gains from radiotherapy in terms of stopping a reoccurrence.You should discuss your worries with the radiographers when you go tomorrow .
I start my rads on April 11th, so will pop into the forum when I start. I have three weeks of ‘normal’ rads and then a week of boost treatment. Anyone else out there with experience of boost?
I started on the 30th so I have had two and it is painless. I feel a bit nauseated this evening but I have plenty of anti nausea stuff left over from the chemo. The Chemo was awful, I had pretty much every side effect going.
Blood clots, neutropenia, systemic infection and the appalling pain from the immunity boosting injections. I had to take morphine for two days. IV antibiotics, blood thinners than I was allergic to the heparin based injections. So I hope that the radiation isnt too bad.
Hi All, I posted the following in March rads so apologies;
Hi All, day 3 of 15. Moisturing like mad. Wondering when the ‘nuclear boob’ will strike??
Had number3 today. Mastectomy scar starting to look a little red. Chest feels like prickly heat at present and looks slightly pink. Coated in aloe vera gel and barrier cream. Have to say I’ll be glad for 2 days off at the weekend. Do feel a bit tired but am putting it down to the travelling to and from the unit. This is not as hard as the chemo. Famous last words! !!.
Scigib I also had major problems with chemo, with neutropeania, hosp admissions, infections and a lovely allergy to adhesive dressings. Rads so far have been easier. I’m going along the line of swimming in moisturisers and cooling gels. So far pink chest is the worst. Hope all goes well for you. xx
Hi ladies. Popping in from Feb rads, hoping to encourage you…
I had 33 fractions, starting 2nd Feb and finishing on 21st March. I had an mx on 26/11/15 with removal of most of my pec muscle for primary angiosarcoma (hence the high rads dose). I was terrified of rads as I have very little flesh left there, but my rads team stayed one step ahead of any problems. After 2 weeks my stump felt swollen, burnt and bruised so my team started spraying it with Cavilon (used for pressure sores and incontinent bottoms!). It gave huge relief from the burning sensation. After 3 weeks I was beginning to question whether I could finish the course - the travel, having to clock watch every day, the reality of my diagnosis all seemed to hit me at the same time and I was very low. My rads team gave me PolyMem non adhesive dressings and advised me to dampen them with cooled, boiled water. I got a further supply from my GP (they are expensive and not actually on my pct prescribing list, but my GP was very understanding given my rads marathon). I am sure PolyMem and regular pain killers are how I got through all my rads. Some evenings I would sit with a bag of ice on top of the PolyMem to cool my stump and calm the prickly heat type rash, but most of the time, damp PolyMem was enough on its own. I hate the slightly sweet smell of it now, but nearly 2 weeks post rads now I am healing really well and still using PolyMem as it makes it possible to wear a bra and foob.
I realise every hospital has different protocols, but there are things out there that can make rads less uncomfortable. Good luck ? X
Thanks SuzyEB. I had my 4th rads today, i’m a bit pink, very hot and a bit swollen, can’t drink enough water and moisturing with the cream they gave me. I have aleo vera gel and the lotion but not used yet - thinking about it though. I have a achy bit in the non poorly boob and don’t know why as radiologist did check and only one being treated.
Had number 4 yesterday with the double whammy bonus of subcut Herceptin. Feeling like I’ve been hit by a bus. Very tired and (tmi alert) bowels that could get medals at Olympics. Thank goodness for a weekend off. At least the weight loss is helping clothes fit again. Ex boob is back to usual colour and the prickly heat effect has gone. Hope everyone is enjoying a peaceful weekend. Xx
Hi Suzy I found the Herceptin really hard during rads, but it only lasted the one day for me. The next one was also tough in the post rads period, but different … Milder (smaller truck … transit or white van rather than juggernaut perhaps ?), but did go on for 2-3 days. I have my next one on Monday (4 1/2 weeks post rads) & hoping it’s not so bad. All the best for the rest of your treatment & to the other ladies. Hi Tat great to hear how well you’re healing. xx
I started on 30 march , 20 altogether, (15 normal then 5 booster) , 3 down and 17 to go! Finding it ok , boob a little sore , but a lot of shoulder pain/discomfort is this normal? Just want to get back to normal my oncologist said after they did the op I no longer had cancer but now it seems weird as going though cancer treatment kind of in limbo?
Hi Deeejayd , tell me about the tamoxifen , how are you on it , I’ve heard of so many side effects and dreading taking it - I start after I’ve finished rads ! Well getting back to the gym and classes , 8 weeks after op and still can’t run or bounce around , doing cross trainer and bike and lower weights , I’m sign up to do the 10k race for life in June got a feeling I’ll be walking it !!
Hi there, I had my first of 15 today and have been a little worried about side effects but reading how well you ladies are coping has made me feel much more positive. I finished 7 cycles of chemo last month, 4 EC and 3 T and having coped OK with 6 cycles, the last one really blew me out of the water and I’m still struggling with the side effects - which has probably made me more stressed than I need to be about radiotherapy.
Any tips about what creams to use would be great - my consultant recommended Biafine which I’ve started to use and I’ve also stocked up on Aveeno skin relief lotion, but would love to hear what’s working for others.
Yasmin xx
Hi Yasmin. I’ve been using Sorbaderm, R1R2 gel , Dr Organics double strength Aloe Vera gel and E45 creams. Find R1 gel immediately after rads has helped reduce the heat and the redness. It’s very sticky but works for me, mind you I’ve also been sitting with the ex boob side exposed when at home and also sleep with chest exposed. Living on my own has some advantages. Hope you find something that works for you. I’ve just had rad 5 and loving crossing them off on the calendar. xx